Bats in my sails

Pete · 08-18-2004, 07:46 PM

I'm going crazy with bats getting inside my sails under my sail cover. They roost in there during the day leaving bat-tirds in the sails and on the boat deck. Has anyone else had this problem. How can I get rid of them.

On 8/21 I tried the "bat re-location program" I motored my sailboat over by Little Bear and flushed them out. Hope they enjoy their new home.

ddemers · 08-18-2004, 09:32 PM

We had the same problem last Oct., except it was soccer balls. (Sorry, couldn't resist) Have you tried one of those stupid fake owls?

madrasahs · 08-19-2004, 07:01 AM

I usually get a rain of sunflower seeds when I raise my sail at the dock. (Bird feeder + innovative chipmunk needing sunflower seed storage). "Fighting" Mother Nature usually ends up frustrating -- it's more effective to work with Mother Nature.

Bats aren't too fussy where they "hang out". I've found them in my woodpiles, eaves, under the house, and under my mailbox. They're also beneficial critters, and would probably prefer roosting in a bathouse that you can hang up near where your sails are stored. (Positioning it on a tree is important, though -- no sun during the daytime).

Bat houses can be pretty elaborate -- if you're handy with a saw. Here's plans for an economy model, like mine, which has concentrated my bat "problem" on a tree away from the house. http://www.batcon.org/bhra/economyhouse.html

'Course, you can always buy one on the Internet or hardware store.

Or, this late in the season, you can leave off the cover and flake the sail on the boom with bungees.

JohnNH · 08-19-2004, 07:22 AM

Try hanging a couple of old socks filled with about a half dozen moth balls. Not a nice smell but it probably burns their little eyes. It also keeps birds, mice and chipmunks away.

John/NH

Rattlesnake Gal · 08-19-2004, 08:31 AM

Supposedly those ultra sonic pest controllers work on bats. Though that requires an outlet or perhaps a power inverter. A good mouser might work, but a cat may not appreciate being stranded on the boat and could tear the sheets getting the bat.

Tired of Waiting · 08-19-2004, 10:17 AM

Put some bat home boxes on the trees near the dock. You will attract Bats and the ones in the sails will live there instead of the sails. It's good to have bats around. Do you know how many bugs they eat each night? Tons.

ToW

PROPELLER · 08-19-2004, 11:35 AM

1 Bat can eat as much as 7,000 mosquitos in 1 evening.

KonaChick · 08-19-2004, 01:15 PM

Propeller, your knowledge on just about every subjuct under the sun is amazing! How lucky we are that you share it with the forum daily!

CMG · 08-19-2004, 09:24 PM

cut the blow off your boat and get yourself a big block.

PROPELLER · 08-20-2004, 07:03 AM

Konachick, Books, magazines & educational TV programming & oh yes the internet are great sources of knowledge!

Tired of Waiting · 08-20-2004, 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PROPELLER

1 Bat can eat as much as 7,000 mosquitos in 1 evening.

See, I was right. It's a well know FACT that mosquitos in NH around the lake weigh in at 1-1/2 pounds each. Just ask a local. So 1-1/2 times 7000 = 10500 Pounds Divided by 4000 = 2.625 tons

ToW

08-18-2004, 07:46 PM	#1
Pete Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: cow island Posts: 6 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Bats in my sails I'm going crazy with bats getting inside my sails under my sail cover. They roost in there during the day leaving bat-tirds in the sails and on the boat deck. Has anyone else had this problem. How can I get rid of them. On 8/21 I tried the "bat re-location program" I motored my sailboat over by Little Bear and flushed them out. Hope they enjoy their new home. Last edited by Pete; 08-23-2004 at 05:03 PM.

08-18-2004, 09:32 PM	#2
ddemers Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Weare, Gilford, Meredith Posts: 62 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Bats in your sails We had the same problem last Oct., except it was soccer balls. (Sorry, couldn't resist) Have you tried one of those stupid fake owls?

08-19-2004, 07:01 AM	#3
madrasahs Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 381 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Kinder, gentler approach I usually get a rain of sunflower seeds when I raise my sail at the dock. (Bird feeder + innovative chipmunk needing sunflower seed storage). "Fighting" Mother Nature usually ends up frustrating -- it's more effective to work with Mother Nature. Bats aren't too fussy where they "hang out". I've found them in my woodpiles, eaves, under the house, and under my mailbox. They're also beneficial critters, and would probably prefer roosting in a bathouse that you can hang up near where your sails are stored. (Positioning it on a tree is important, though -- no sun during the daytime). Bat houses can be pretty elaborate -- if you're handy with a saw. Here's plans for an economy model, like mine, which has concentrated my bat "problem" on a tree away from the house. http://www.batcon.org/bhra/economyhouse.html 'Course, you can always buy one on the Internet or hardware store. Or, this late in the season, you can leave off the cover and flake the sail on the boom with bungees.

08-19-2004, 10:17 AM	#6
Tired of Waiting Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 519 Thanks: 111 Thanked 259 Times in 107 Posts	Don't go Bats over Bats Put some bat home boxes on the trees near the dock. You will attract Bats and the ones in the sails will live there instead of the sails. It's good to have bats around. Do you know how many bugs they eat each night? Tons. ToW

08-19-2004, 11:35 AM	#7
PROPELLER Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 340 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Mosquito control 1 Bat can eat as much as 7,000 mosquitos in 1 evening.

08-19-2004, 07:22 AM	#4
JohnNH Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Weare, NH Posts: 72 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Try hanging a couple of old socks filled with about a half dozen moth balls. Not a nice smell but it probably burns their little eyes. It also keeps birds, mice and chipmunks away. John/NH

08-19-2004, 08:31 AM	#5
Rattlesnake Gal Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Central NH Posts: 5,252 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 1,451 Thanked 1,349 Times in 475 Posts	Supposedly those ultra sonic pest controllers work on bats. Though that requires an outlet or perhaps a power inverter. A good mouser might work, but a cat may not appreciate being stranded on the boat and could tear the sheets getting the bat.

08-19-2004, 01:15 PM	#8
KonaChick Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 518 Thanks: 19 Thanked 62 Times in 15 Posts	Propeller, your knowledge on just about every subjuct under the sun is amazing! How lucky we are that you share it with the forum daily!

08-19-2004, 09:24 PM	#9
CMG Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Windham - NH Posts: 21 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	cut the blow off your boat and get yourself a big block.

08-20-2004, 07:03 AM	#10
PROPELLER Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 340 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	knowledge Konachick, Books, magazines & educational TV programming & oh yes the internet are great sources of knowledge!